New beginnings

[mookz]

Hi Guys

I am moving in the next month or so.
This has now given me a chance to have a new tank built and start fresh, without all the previous mistakes I have maid.

I am having a 1000mm x 1000mm x 500mm tank built, out of 12 mm glass,
rimless with a skinny overflow and dual returns in-line with the overflow.

The will be setting up the tank at my new place to start cycling so that by the time I move in all will be peachy!
I will using NSW in this tank and Mix for emergencies top-ups.
This is going to be a moray eel lagoon, and possibly have a school of Humbugs or Yellow tail Damsels.
Corals are going to be mostly Shroomz and Polyps.
I will also possibly have a island for crustaceans to escape the Morays.
I have the following equipment for the tank.

1x Susun 5000lph
1x Sunsun 12000lph
1x 300w heater
AquaStarlight 2x 250 MH de @ 20 000K
4x 39w T5 unit with moonlights
Reef Octox 200 external with Sicca 2500
Boyu skimmer with OTP2000 pump


I realise I do not have enough flow and will remedy this ASAP!

Could anyone suggest a cheap uplift pump, my overflow pipe is going to be 50mm at the base of the skinny overflow, and the returns will be 50mm each.

 

[jaybeepee]

Hailea 6550 maybe?

 

[zayd]

Nice setup you planning. I would not have 2 x 50mm returns. Too much for the overflow. Rather 2 x 25 or 35mm.

Hailea are good uplift pumps.

 

[jaybeepee]

true, on my 1.6M tank - im using 32mm return and 50mm overlfow. I think you will also make your pump work ALOT harder using 50mm return

Nice setup you planning. I would not have 2 x 50mm returns. Too much for the overflow. Rather 2 x 25 or 35mm.

Hailea are good uplift pumps.

 

[mookz]

Nice setup you planning. I would not have 2 x 50mm returns. Too much for the overflow. Rather 2 x 25 or 35mm.

Hailea are good uplift pumps.

I have a 6530 lying around...would that do?
Just needs a impeller, LFS no longer stocks them or parts.

 

[mookz]

Cool will chat to the tank builder and ask him to rather make the returns 35mm.

Thx guys!

 

[Slagter]

I am having a 100mm x 100mm x 50mm tank built, out of 12 mm glass,

That's a really small tank...

But obviously, it's a 1M x 1M X 50cm tank... It's a nice size tank. The Haileas are good otherwise the Eheim range is also pretty good!

 

[mookz]

That's a really small tank...

But obviously, it's a 1M x 1M X 50cm tank... It's a nice size tank. The Haileas are good otherwise the Eheim range is also pretty good!

lol oops will fix the dimensions!

 

[mookz]

Here are some pic's of my current tanks inmates.
As you can see loads of algae problems, been fighting it for ages, believe it or not this is actually starting to look good, I had pieces of algae 15cm long trailing in the water. It has taken allot of hard work to get the algae "under control".

I could only take pic's of three of the eels, the fourth one is very shy.

Can anyone ID these funny little things, they each have a little white tentacle that waves around in the water.

 

[mookz]

Still need to work on my camera skillz

 

[Jaco Schoeman]

Can anyone ID these funny little things, they each have a little white tentacle that waves around in the water.

Looks like a type of Barnacle... Absolutely harmless; in fact they are very efficient filter feeders that help clean your water...

If you however have hermits or other crabs, the barnacles will eventually "disappear"...

 

[mookz]

Looks like a type of Barnacle... Absolutely harmless; in fact they are very efficient filter feeders that help clean your water...

If you however have hermits or other crabs, the barnacles will eventually "disappear"...

Hermits and crabs last about 5 seconds in my tank

 

[mookz]

Hi Guys
The tank was siliconed together yesterday, now I need to choose an overflow asap, I have attached a hand drawn pic of two options, i suck at Google sketch-up

Option 1 includes 2x 32 mm returns.
Option 2 will not have returns.

Problem is I think I made a mistake with the overflow pane of glass, it is only 2cm from the rim of the tank, and the over flow including braces will only be about +/- 30 cm wide for water to flow over.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[mookz]

Tank has been delivered!!
It is a really nice size, going to have allot of swimming space for the eels.

Started playing with the plumbing and cleaning the skimmer with some vinegar water.
I am very happy with the overflow, decided to got with a +/- 20mm gap and 2x 50mm outlets as I need to turn over a massive amount of water.

I also have to give the stand a nice thick coat of Hammerite

 

[mookz]

The skimmer is AWESOME!!!

So here's the sad news

the floor is uneven towards the middle.
Does anyone have advise on how to correct this without digging up the floor and laying down a concrete slab?
I was thinking thick rubber matting, about 20mm thick or perhaps plywood?

 

[Sentari]

What about legs for the stand?

Easy to make if you can weld. Nut and bolt with a flat piece of metal and a rubber pad at the bottom.

 

[mookz]

What about legs for the stand?

Easy to make if you can weld. Nut and bolt with a flat piece of metal and a rubber pad at the bottom.

Hi Sentari, would the nuts and bolts be able to handle +/- 500 Litres?
So I would weld the nuts on every corner, and in the middle of the bottom braces?

Thanks for the info!

 

[mookz]

Hi Guys
Going to have to have a new stand built, overflow is leaking etc been a loooong day........

Here are some pics of the eels, we had to transport them in a 110litre ADDIS tub today.

You can see their size by comparing them to the damsel O.O

A HUGE tank you to Rob for eel sitting!!!!!
Sorry I was very distracted today allot going on, you have the cutest kid ever!

 

[mookz]

What about legs for the stand?

Easy to make if you can weld. Nut and bolt with a flat piece of metal and a rubber pad at the bottom.

Thank you again for the idea....been a little down with the overflow leaking and the floor being uneven.
I am getting quotes on a new stand with adjustable feet, and better quality.

 

[mookz]

*sigh*

Hi Guys

Was working in the garage today when the wife came in to admire the tank.
She then called me over asked if the glass is meant to be skew and have funny bubbles in the silicone.......at closer inspection I noticed that the panels are off from 1 - 3 mm in some places, and that it looks like the glass is set skew on the base...also the overflow box's silicone seems to have been put on while the glass was damp as the silicone isn't sticking to it properly.

So my question is...am I being paranoid or should I genuinely be worried?

Please if anyone that builds tanks or that have built tanks could comment, please see below pictures.
You can clearly see the overlapping corners and panes.

Should I complain and have the tank rebuilt or will it be fine?

I am getting a little desperate O.O.